Current Members

Faculty

Joel Collier

Joel Collier

Theodore Kennedy Professor of Biomedical Engineering

joel.collier@duke.edu

Research Interests: The design of biomaterials for a range of biomedical applications, with a focus on understanding and controlling adaptive immune responses. Most materials investigated are created from molecular assemblies- proteins, peptides or bioconjugates that self-organize into useful structures such as nanofibers, gels, and particles.

PhD Students

Lauren Babb

Lauren Babb

BME Doctoral Student

lauren.babb@duke.edu

Research Interests: Designing active immunotherapies for the prevention of infectious diseases. Engineering peptide nanofiber platforms for oral delivery.

Pablo Cordero-Alvarado

Pablo Cordero-Alvarado

BME Doctoral Candidate

p.cordero@duke.edu

Research Interests: Understand the design rules of biomaterials to elicit immune responses that can control and improve wound healing in animal models that mimic biological processes in humans.

Benjamin  Cossette

Benjamin Cossette

BME Doctoral Candidate

benjamin.cossette@duke.edu

Research Interests: Engineering self-assembling peptide vaccines for the treatment of allergy and autoimmune diseases

Helena Freire Haddad

Helena Freire Haddad

BME Doctoral Candidate

helena.freire.haddad@duke.edu

Research Interests: Engineering mucus-penetrating materials for mucosal vaccine delivery Active immunotherapies to mitigate inflammatory diseases

Maria Kulapurathazhe

Maria Kulapurathazhe

BME Doctoral Student

mjk84@duke.edu

Research Interests: Drug delivery, peptide platform development, aging and inflammation

Kat Lazar

Kat Lazar

BME Doctoral Student

kat.lazar@duke.edu

Research Interests: Peptide synthesis and glatiramoids

Deleah Pettie

Deleah Pettie

BME Doctoral Candidate

deleah.pettie@duke.edu

Research Interests: Engineering active immunotherapies that can promote mucosal healing.  Enhance epitope prediction and design for peptide nanofiber active immunotherapies.

Alistaire  Rauch

Alistaire Rauch

BME Doctoral Student

alistaire.rauch@duke.edu

Research Interests: Designing active immunotherapies for Alzheimer's Disease

Emily Roe

Emily Roe

BME Doctoral Candidate

emily.roe@duke.edu

Research Interests: Sublingual delivery of peptide nanofibers to prevent sexually transmitted infections Conjugation of proteins to self-assembling peptide nanofibers

Shamitha Shetty

Shamitha Shetty

BME Doctoral Candidate

shamitha.shetty@duke.edu

Research Interests: Engineering active immunotherapies for anti-inflammatory applications. Leveraging material platforms to enhance wound healing.

Masters Students

Peiying Liu

Peiying Liu

BME Master Student

Research Interests: Characterizing peptide for autoimmune disease and reduce inflammation

Undergraduates

Mia Woodruff

Mia Woodruff

Undergraduate Student

mia.woodruff@duke.edu

Research Interests: Engineering supramolecular peptide platforms for oral delivery and immune modulation within the gut.

Therapeutic Pet-tides

Zuzu Collier

Zuzu Collier

Research Interests: Currently studying leporine psychology, secretly wishing it was leporine gastronomy. 

Theo Cordero

Theo Cordero

Research Interests: Theo's interests range from finding hidden toys to following trails of little treats. In his free time, he enjoys going to dog parks and making new friends. 

Appa Freire

Appa Freire

Research Interests: Propagating sound waves in nocturnal conditions

Benny  Roe

Benny Roe

Research Interests: Bennys interests include studying the behavioral patterns of the eastern gray squirrel and the optimal disassembly of stuffed animals. In his free time he enjoys napping and hiking with his mom.